As for your own vehicle, you familiar with all of its controls, the right amount of pressure for breaking, where the wiper blades are located and more. As for rental cars, few people realize that getting behind the wheel of another car can be rather dangerous. The right thing is always to spend quality time getting used to the controls and feel of a new car as this knowledge could be life-saving...

Book Your Rental Car Early

Booking your rental car early allows you to choose a car that you can feel comfortable driving. Last minute reservations could leave you with a manual transmission. And if you drive an automatic transmission, this could be a major problem. You avoid this blunder by simply booking early.

Spend Time Reviewing Your Car's Safety Features

Before you leave the rental agency's parking lot, make sure you're familiar with you vehicle's controls. Where's the turn signal? Where are the wipers, front and rear located. Where's the gas tank and gas hatch release mechanism located? Are you familiar with the heater and air conditioning controls? Can you operate the radio or CD player? Are you familiar with the car's seat- adjustment controls? Have you looked at the car's operation manual? Have you taken a moment to see if there's a spare tire in the trunk? Where is the hazard light switch located? Your rental agent will be happy to assist if you have any questions.

Test Your Brakes

You can count on the fact that every vehicle has a different braking response time. You're naturally accustomed to your own vehicle, because you drive it every day. When you're in a rental, take some time to get used to how the brakes feel.

When you're actually traveling on the road, be sure and leave enough space between your rental and the vehicle in front of you. That extra cushion of space could be the difference between an accident or enjoying a pleasant ride along the coast. If anything peculiar about the rental car's brakes is noticed, it's important that customers let their car rental companies know about the problem promptly.

Test Your Car's Steering and Acceleration

Don't take the word of car rental companies. Take your rental vehicle for a test drive. It's one of the best ways to get familiar with it. Try for the open stretch to accelerate and decelerate. Or, a secluded parking lot can work just as well.

Become Familiar with the Local Laws

When you're driving in unfamiliar territory, knowing the local laws can make all the difference in the world when it comes to safety. If you're driving out of state, pay special attention when you're approaching small towns. Speeding laws are taken quite seriously, especially to law enforcement officials who may be waiting, unseen, somewhere along the highway. Keep as safe driving distance between you and the cars up ahead. Always wear a seatbelt. Avoid distractions. Keep your eyes on the road ahead.